President Donald Trump applauds during a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 28, 2018, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The Latest: Court filing may show Russia probe nearing close

May 29, 2018 - 3:13 pm

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and the special counsel's Russia investigation (all times local):

3:10 p.m.

The case of a California man who pleaded guilty in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation is moving closer to sentencing.

It's a sign that that aspect of the Mueller investigation may be drawing to a close. Prosecutors filed a similar motion last week in the case of George Papadopoulos, a Trump campaign aide who pleaded guilty last year to lying to investigators.

In a court filing Tuesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers say they're ready to start the process of sentencing Richard Pinedo, who pleaded guilty in February to selling bank accounts to Russians.

The filing asks a judge to refer the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, a critical step in the sentencing process.

__

7:28 a.m.

President Donald Trump is accusing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigative team of "MEDDLING" in the upcoming midterm elections and blames Democrats for "Collusion."

Mueller is leading the probe into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election with the help from Trump campaign aides. So far, four Trump associates have been charged in Mueller's investigation; three have pleaded guilty to lying to the authorities.

Trump has repeatedly referred to Mueller's team as "13 angry Democrats," although Mueller is a Republican.

On Tuesday, Trump tweeted: "The 13 Angry Democrats (plus people who worked 8 years for Obama) working on the rigged Russia Witch Hunt, will be MEDDLING with the mid-term elections, especially now that Republicans (stay tough!) are taking the lead in Polls. There was no Collusion, except by the Democrats."